Flying Over Ice

Arrive in Punta Arenas at the southern tip of Chile, where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Your Antarctic adventure begins at Explorers House with check-in and an essential expedition briefing covering the journey ahead and responsible travel in this fragile environment. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner and meet your fellow travellers over regional cuisine, building anticipation for tomorrow’s flight to the White Continent.

Rather than spending days sailing across the Drake Passage, take a roughly two-hour flight directly from Punta Arenas to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands. Step onto Antarctic soil and travel past the Frei and Bellingshausen research stations before reaching the coast. From here, board a Zodiac for the short journey to your expedition vessel and begin sailing into the extraordinary polar wilderness.

Begin your expedition among the dramatic landscapes of the South Shetland Islands. Weather and ice conditions determine the precise route, allowing the Expedition Team to seek out the most rewarding opportunities each day. Head ashore by Zodiac to explore remote landing sites, watching for penguins and seabirds while becoming acquainted with Antarctica’s extraordinary combination of wildlife, ice and volcanic scenery.

Continue south towards the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, navigating between immense icebergs and glacier-lined fjords. Venture ashore in small groups or explore by Zodiac, reaching secluded bays and stretches of coastline inaccessible to larger vessels. Keep watch for penguins, seals and whales while expert polar guides provide deeper insight into the wildlife, history and natural environment surrounding you.

Sail deeper into the Antarctic Peninsula region, with the Gerlache Strait among the possible areas explored during the voyage. Towering mountains, glaciers and iceberg-filled waters create some of the continent’s most dramatic scenery. Conditions permitting, head out by Zodiac and make shore landings for closer encounters with this remarkable environment, taking advantage of the long austral summer daylight for exploration and photography.

Continue towards increasingly remote reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula, potentially navigating the spectacular Penola Strait. As the ship pushes farther south, the landscape becomes ever more dominated by ice, isolated peaks and pristine waterways. Zodiac excursions and shore landings provide opportunities to explore beyond the vessel, while the constantly changing conditions ensure that each day brings an entirely different perspective on Antarctica.

The expedition continues towards its defining objective: reaching the Antarctic Circle at approximately 66° south. Few travellers venture this deep into the Antarctic Peninsula, and the journey offers a growing sense of isolation as you sail through increasingly remote waters. The precise route remains dictated by weather and ice, with every opportunity used to explore the wildlife, landscapes and hidden corners encountered along the way.

Make the most of your final full day exploring Antarctic waters, with Crystal Sound among the potential areas visited during the expedition. Venture out for further Zodiac excursions and shore landings whenever conditions allow, surrounded by immense ice formations and the possibility of encounters with penguins, seals, whales and seabirds. Later, return to the comfort of the ship and watch the Antarctic landscape drift past from the observation lounge as the vessel begins making its way back north.

Return to King George Island and disembark your expedition vessel for the scheduled flight back across the Drake Passage. Bid farewell to Antarctica before flying north to Punta Arenas, where you will be transferred to your hotel for a final overnight stay. The evening is yours to relax after an extraordinary journey into some of the most remote waters of the Southern Hemisphere.

After breakfast, transfer to Punta Arenas Airport for your onward flight. From soaring over the Drake Passage to navigating glacier-filled channels, making remote Zodiac landings and attempting to cross the Antarctic Circle, the journey concludes with memories of a part of the world reached by remarkably few travellers.